William h



(No Model.) WjHyDAVIS.

REPRIGERATORJ No. 291,036. Patented Janf1f1884.

N. Farina Pxwwummmphcr. wmmgxm D c4 d' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. DAVIS, OF SYRAOUSE, NEV YORK.

j v j I f REFRIGERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 291,036, dated January1, 185:4.

Application filed November 5, 1883.

4section of the ice-shelf detached, and Fig. 4

is an enlarged section of the drip-tube port-ion ofthe ice-shelf.

Like letters refer to like parts in'all the figures.V p

My invention has for its obj ects the simplification of the constructionof refrigerators,

'the reduction of the cost of their manufacture,

and the reduction to the smallest possible quantity of ice required tomaintain a desired temperature, and to prevent the collection ofdampness within the preserving-chamber, the surrounding and protectingair-chambers, and upon the walls of the same, and of the lower surfacesof the ice-shelf. Other advantages and objects will appear hereinafter.

My invention consists in certain features of construction andarrangement, hereinafter described, and specifically set forth in theclaims.

A represents the preserving-chamber of the refrigerator, provided with ashelf, a, or it may be with a number of shelves. The walls of thechamber comprise a lining, ct', of any suitable non-corrosive metal orother suitable material, and `a box orcasing of woodwork, a2. The casinga2 is supported in an outer casing, a, upon cleats a4. At the upper.edges of the casing a2, and extending therefrom all around outwardly toand against the inner surface of the outer casing, are flanges, a5, ofwood-work, which may or may not, as'desired, be covered by the lining`c. A cover, B, is fitted to the chamber A, and a cover, C, is tted tothe outer casing, a3, and between the covers is an air-space, D.

By the construction thus far described it will be seen that thepreservingfchamber is .completely protected by dead-air chambers Fig. 2is a plan of the same.

(No model.)

E D, that there is no possibility of any communication between the lpreserving-chamber and the dead-air chambers E, and by extending thesides or walls of the casing a2, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2,each of the dead-air spaces is separated from the others, so thatcommunication from one chamber to another is prevented.` Y Y l I amaware that double-walled receptacles are old, and that dead-air chambersin refrig- -erators are not new; but heretofore, so far as I am aware,theyhave either been filled with some well-known non-heat-conductingmaterial vor the walls of said spaces have been constructed with one ormore openings, whereby access of air to one or more of said spacesexists or has existed. I have found by experience that the condensationof moisture upon and within the filling heretofore used tends not onlyto dition, hastens the destruction of the refrigerator as a whole, and Ihave also observed that, in proportion to the number and size of theopenings formed in the walls of the chambers, the resultingcommunication between the preserving-chamber and the air-spaces produceslike unfavorable results. I therefore deem it essential that theair-spaces shall be non-communicative either with the preserving-chamberor, as above indicated, with each other, if desired, and unfilled.

F represents the ice box or shelf, the bottom of which in this instanceis grooved or corrugated and slanted to a short drip-pipe, f. Upon thisbottom are placed the wooden slats for supporting the ice. The front andrear ends Of the ice-box are extended above the sides, as at f, andthese extensions serve as a means for securing the ice-box in positionin the preserving-chamber, by soldering said extensions to the lining'a.A dead-air space, F', beneath the ice-shelf F, is formed by securing theflanges g of a supplementary box or shelf, G, to Vthe outer walls of themain icebox, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3. The drippipe f extendsthrough the plate G and for a short distance into a larger drain-pipe,I-I. Fine apertures or notches g are made in the edge of the opening inthe plate G, through which the drip-pipe f passes, so that anycondensation of moisture upon the lower or under .7,0 destroy itsnon-conducting function, but, in ad- IOO surface of the ice-shelf isultimately collected within the air-space F and at the lowest pointtherein, as shown by dot-ted lines in Fig; 4, where, by reason of thecomparative fneness of the apertures or notches g, said condensedmoisture acts as a water-seal, and gradually, as it increases inquantity, oozes through said notches or apertures and trickles down thedrip-pipe into the drain-pipe.

By the construction of an ice box or shelf as above described, thefollowing advantages are Secured: All dripping upon articles within thepreserving-chamber from the ice-shelf is prevented. A confined air-spaceis provided immediately under the ice, so that its refrigerating orcooling qualities are prevented from taking effect directly beneath theshelf, to the confusion of a desired systematic air-current within thechamber, and such effects are therefore directed in a greater degree, byreason of said confined air-space, in an upward direction, thuscreating, stimulating, and 1naintaining in greater perfection suchdesired aireurrent. Finally, the ice box or shelf, together with itsairspace and drippipe, may be completed and afterward set within andsecured to opposite walls of the preservingchamber. In order to secure acontinuous circulation of the air within the preservingchamber, Iarrange the ice-shelf at one side of the center of the chamber, so as toproduce a narrow passage, x, and a wide passage, y, at opposite sides ofthe chamber, whereby the warmer air rising through the wider passagestrikes the ice, is condensed, and passes down IBLSG ward through thenarrower passage. Thus a complete circulation is established.

If desired, one side that at the narrow passage as) of the ice shelf orbox may be lower than the opposite side, and the entire ice box or shelfmay be arranged in the center of the chamber, instead of at one side ofthe center, as shown.

Having described my invention and its operation, what I claim is l. Anice-shelf provided with a drip-pipe, a confined air-space, andawater-seal, substantially as specified.

2. The ice-shelf F, provided with the supplemental shelf G, securedthereto by the lianges g, and with the drip-pipe f, passing` through anotched opening in the shelf G, substantially as shown and described.

3. The ice-shelf F, provided with the fianges f, and the dead-airchamber F', constructed as described, whereby it may be secured in placein a refrigerator after completion, substantially as specified.

+L. The ice-shelf F, provided with the flanges f and with the dead-airchamber F', having a notched opening, g', in combination with thedrip-pipef and draiirpipe I-I, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

fLLL/UI II. DAVIS.

\\'itnesses:

JOHN It. (oimixs, HARRY F. KING.

